Helicopters essential in Ga. State Patrol

PERRY, Ga. — After graduating from high school, Hamilton Halford's heartfelt desire was to become a state trooper.

Little did he know that while assigned to his first post in Thomson the course of his career would eventually shift to also include his fascination with aviation.

While driving to his hometown in Arlington after work, a helicopter landed in front of him and a state trooper stepped out wearing the same blue-colored shirt he was still wearing after finishing a shift behind the dispatching console.